Saturday, May 30, 2009

Jim here. There is a new THE FINAL DESTINATION (formally FINAL DESTINATION: DEATH TRIP) poster on the net (UGO). I like the tagline a fair bit: "Rest in pieces" and the imagery itself is definitely eye catching, but still I think something is missing from it.

The feeling I get from this poster is definitely a gimmicky 3D feel and seeing as though this is a 3D horror movie we can expect some of this taking place. Not too much I hope. I thought MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D did a good job of balancing it out despite the constant temptation to use it.

Very interested in seeing another live action horror in 3D - and my feeling is this could be the best one yet due to the proven franchise nature of the series. But if it isn't I will not hesitate to deep six it.

Michael here. I had almost given up on getting into Friday night's Aliens / The Abyss (in 70 mm) double feature with James Cameron at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. The event had sold out over five weeks ago. When I arrived at the theater, I was among a bunch of people looking for someone to sell them a ticket.

Anyway, I got lucky and had the awesome experience of seeing Aliens and The Abyss projected in startlingly vivid 70 mm. Between movies, Cameron talked with the audience about his past films, Avatar, 3D, The Dark Knight, the Simulcam and more.

Listen below for 43 minutes of Q & A with James Cameron!

A few highlights:

1. Cameron said we would see our first glimpse of Avatar "very soon." His tone of voice seemed to be hinting that we would, in fact, be seeing something very soon.

2.The 2D and 3D versions of Avatar will have different aspect ratios. The 3D version will be the full 16 x 9 ratio in which the movie was shot (Cameron explains how the extra screen height benefits 3D). A 2D cinemascope ratio version will be extracted from this 16 x 9 footage for 2D theatrical exhibition and 3D exhibition on screens which can't handle 16 x 9.

3. On Avatar: "It's great to be back in the saddle making a movie- and making a movie that I know - win, lose, or draw, whether it's a good film or not, I know there's going to be images in this film we're making right now that are going to Blow. People. Away...They'll be like, 'what the f#ck?"...cause we say that when we see the shots coming back from WETA Digital. They sent us a shot last week, and I said, 'this is ridiculous!' So, I don't know if it's gonna add up to be a great film, but I already feel proud that there's some cool stuff in it."

Friday, May 29, 2009

UPDATE: Michael here. Reader Adam Loncar pointed me to an Ubisoft press release promising "special guests that are certain to thrill attendees and web viewers." It would certainly be awesome if Cameron showed up to help show off the Avatar game. More as I get it!

Michael here. Ubisoft is holding their E3 press conference on Monday at 5:00 PM, PST, and you can watch it as it happens via Ubisoft's official live stream.

Will the Avatar game be shown? MCV is reporting that it will be unveiled at E3. The site reportedly spoke to Ubisoft's European Executive Director Alain Corre, who told them that “People will be dreaming about Avatar after seeing it at E3. People will have never witnessed anything like it before. This is an investment in technology we will be able to put into our future products.”

Referring to 3D technology, Corre said “This is a brand new visual approach to gaming and movies. Hopefully, it will capture everyone’s attention. We know not all the gamers will be able to own that technology. But we’ll be able to get it to many of them. This 3D aspect will one day become must-have."

So far MCV seems to be the only source reporting that Ubisoft will be revealing their 3D technology - and the Avatar game - at E3. I am unfamiliar with the site, so I cannot personally vouch for their credibility. However, I do think there is a solid chance that we will see something from the game at the press conference.

Stay tuned to MarketSaw for more on Ubisoft's E3 plans as we learn more!

Jim here. Have a look at this new Toy Story 3 teaser that the folks at Disney/Pixar have made available for us! It is great to see these characters back in action - truly. I forgot how well Woody and Buzz interact together. Should look amazing in 3D!!

Jim here. TINTIN has a date with you - December 23, 2011 for the first installment from Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg entitled THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN. Paramount is the distributor for US, Canada, Australia, Asia, UK and all other English speaking countries with Sony handling mainland Europe, Latin America and India.

Well this one is obviously going to be a worldwide phenomenon! TINTIN is beloved in Europe and with two of the best in the business creating this world for us, we are going to be in for a special treat. There is NO doubt that the sequels will happen.

San Diego-based multi-media production studio PassmoreLab, in conjunction with on-location entertainment company Lucid Dreams 3D, has begun principal photography on a new educational 3D surfing film called Physics of Surﬁng, available to science centers and museums later this year.

It’s science meets surﬁng in this truly exceptional educational project. Shown in the crystal clear beauty of high-definition 3D, audiences everywhere will be thrilled and amazed as they follow two professional female surfers to gorgeous locations around the world - including Hawaii's breathtaking North Shore and renowned surf spots along the California coast - exploring surﬁng's deep inﬂuence on modern culture while experiencing Mother Nature’s magificent power in the creation of our ocean’s waves.

Shot using PassmoreLabʼs proprietary 3D rigs, stereo synthesis conversion, and RED cameras in spectacular digital high deﬁnition, Physics of Surﬁng is an exciting addition to the rich history of surf cinema. Gorgeous scenery and incredible surﬁng action are the orders of the day as the surfers’ grace and athleticism illustrate principles of physics, culture and history.

“The digital 3D science adventure is something we take seriously and do quite well,” said Greg Passmore, President of PassmoreLab. “On this film, the audience will be transfixed in a completely immersive 3D surfing experience, and learn a thing or two along the way.”

Pro Surfers Julie Cox and Kyla Langen, the two featured surfers in the film, are both longtime surfing competitors and aficionados. Cox, a talented longboarder who also works for the California Surf Museum, has competed in contests around the globe - winning California coalition events and consistently placing in the top 10 of international events held in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. On the other hand, Langen's radical, aggressive style is pure excitement. She's surfed professionally in over twenty countries and works with the Cousteau Foundation's CELP program as a youth instructor. Both women are also surf coaches and share an intense affection for the sea.

“Julie's lyrical, ﬂowing surf style is a joy to behold. Her empathy for the ocean is truly inspiring,” said Executive Producer James Humann of Lucid Dreams 3D. “While Kyla’s style is like listening to rock 'n' roll - daring, brash, reckless – and her love of the ocean is completely infectious.”

Unlike other surﬁng documentaries, Physics of Surﬁng is a 35-minute educational ﬁlm that uncovers the physical science of ocean waves and the art of surﬁng. In this captivating presentation, the ﬁlmmakers explore how energy moves through water, building and combining its force, traveling thousands of miles over the course of weeks until the ocean ﬂoor underneath disrupts the wave’s formation and causes it to pitch up and collapse. The ﬁlm also investigates the science behind various surﬁng styles and how surfers instinctively address such notions of gravity and buoyancy while using the energy of motion to ride waves.

Further, the ﬁlm looks at how the modern technology of surfboard design affects a board’s performance on the wave. Audiences will experience the exhilaration of surﬁng while learning how surfers play with nature's purest form of energy and power.

The musical legacy of surﬁng is a rich and exciting element of surf culture and Physics of Surﬁng honors this with a truly inspired soundtrack. Produced by Dusty Watson, it includes tracks from instrumental surf-rock mainstays Slacktone and previously unreleased material by Southern California's legendary skate-punk band Agent Orange (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4). Since the late 70s, Agent Orange has had an enormous inﬂuence on the skate-punk/surf-rock scene and Slacktone are widely regarded as the greatest exponents of the genre. Rounding out the musical lineup is punk supergroup Osaka Popstar - the standard bearers of old-school punk in the 21st century - featuring members of the Ramones, the Misﬁts, and Black Flag.

Physics of Surﬁng, a beautiful, high definition 3D celebration of surf, science, and music, will be available for distribution to science centers and museums everywhere by December 2009.

About PassmoreLab PassmoreLab is a San Diego-based multi-media production studio that specializes in 3D production and 2D to 3D content conversion. The studio custom-designs and builds its own RED camera 3D rigs for both conventional and rugged film productions, shooting everything from feature films, television and science documentaries, to underwater diving, extreme sports and cave exploration.

State-of-the-art facilities include a full 3D production studio, video/film post-production, optical development lab, and a software development environment. Production includes 2D, 3D, high dynamic range time lapse, stereoscopic microscopy and cutting-edge simulation technologies for real time SFX. PassmoreLab’s proprietary technology for 2D to 3D video and film conversion is unmatched in the industry, in both turnaround times and conversion costs.

PassmoreLab has additional offices in Russia and the Philippines. For more information, visit www.passmorelab.com.

About Lucid Dreams3D LD3D was formed to express 3D technology and art for on-location entertainment, music videos, cinema and marketing/advertising. Founder James Humann, an intellectual property lawyer, formerly served as Senior Director of Business Affairs at Hard Rock International. Because of its combination of art, science and law, LD3D helps clients develop technology, produce content and protect assets. For more information, visit www.luciddreams3d.com.

In Related News: Steve Glum Has Joined PassmoreLab

Steve Glum has joined PassmoreLab as the head of Branding and Distribution. Mr. Glum comes from Ripley Entertainmenet where he served as VP of Marketing & Branding.“PassmoreLab is an extremely innovative 2D & 3D company, and matches perfectly with my style of brand-building and forward distribution,” says Glum. “The content is amazing and they certainly have plenty of it. The opportunities to distribute our titles to television, wireless, theatres, science centers and the attractions worlds, both in the 2D and 3D environments, are just endless.”

While at Ripley Entertainment Inc., Glum led international brand development, consumer marketing strategy, and creative services. He also led the 3D conversion of the archived Ripley’s vault footage catalog, spearheaded new openings in Times Square and Piccadilly Circus, and has produced all television creative for the company since 2005.

Greg Passmore, President of PassmoreLab, stated that Glum's focus will be on helping PassmoreLab with brand awareness and furthering the company's expansion into television, the location-based entertainment market, and building on the company's long history of film production and simulators. "Steve will be a great asset to our team at PassmoreLab," said Passmore. "His experience and abilities are a perfect fit for our company and our goals for the future."

"Steve's branding experience will help carry our message into today's traditional and alternative venues to allow our content and technology to educate, entertain, and amaze," said Passmore. "Whether it is television, a theater, museum, thrill ride, or planetarium, PassmoreLab delivers an experience that merges technology and art."

IAAPA awarded Glum two International Marketing Excellence Awards at its Brass Ring Awards in 2008. Glum's work in the industry has also been recognized by the Ontario Tourism Awards for best online strategy in 2007 and by Advertising Age magazine.

Glum has also held positions with House of Blues and The Walt Disney Company. He earned a bachelor's degree in Marketing from Stetson University and completed the IAAPA Institute for Executive Education program from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Jim here. Got some great news for all you Dreamworks Animation fans out there - they have announced their 3D lineup of movies coming up! Moreover, they have shifted to a schedule of 5 movies every 2 years. The new schedule will make room for 1 or 2 sequels a year plus an original. ALL in 3D of course. The future is here baby!

Let's get into them:

2010:OOBERMIND (Formally MASTERMIND) - voice casting of Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey. RDJ's character discovers life isn't as it should be once he kills off his nemesis, Metro Man. The pic is from Ben Stiller's shingle Red Hour Films and is slated for a November 5, 2010 release.

An update on HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON tells us that it is "Set in the world of Vikings and dragons, it centers on an awkward teen who befriends an injured dragon."

2011:KUNG FU PANDA: THE KABOOM OF DOOM - The anticipated sequel to the original blockbuster last year is set for release on June 3, 2011. Jennifer Yuh directs. Melissa Cobb produces.

THE GUARDIANS - From a as yet unpublished book series by author William Joyce (MEET THE ROBINSONS). The story brings together MAJOR children's heros as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Jack Frost and the Sandman — to defend the world from a Bogeyman-like villain. Jeff Lynch directs. "...The figures have been 'somewhat renamed and massively reimagined' by Joyce, who has supplied each of the figures with a fresh backstory and is collaborating closely on the film."Look for this one on November 4, 2011.

2012:PUSS IN BOOTS - Is a prequel to SHREK 2 (where PIB is introduced to the franchise) with Chris Miller (SHREK 3) directing. March 30, 2012 is the slated date. Not much need to be said about this one, other than back up the Brinks truck...

MADAGASCAR 3 - The zoo creatures go on a European tour through a traveling circus. Eric Darnell directs.

The third DWA movie is slated for November 12, 2012 and may come from one of three options: THE CROODS (caveman comedy), TRUCKERS (miniature creatures living in a department store) or SUPER SECRET GHOST PROJECT (asks what ghosts think of humans).

Personally, I believe THE CROODS will easily win this one out - although ALL THREE are currently in production. Why? One name - JOHN CLEESE. Genius. Period. He co-writes this as well as lends his voice. The original name for this project was CROOD AWAKENING and tells a story of about a big man in a small village called Crood. His position as Leader of the Hunt is threatened by the arrival of a prehistoric genius who comes up with revolutionary new inventions, such as fire... Oh and the Governator himself is said to be lending his voice too - makes for a great caveman personna don't you think?

What an awesome lineup! Really looking forward to PIB and THE CROODS. As their technology and 3D expertise widens - I expect to be wowed with each and every release. No pressure though guys... :-)

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Have heard from@mordecaidesign(Twitter) and Tom Powell (see comments) that they are sure that the first image is from Dylan Cole. Appears they are both correct. There is conjecture that the second one is by James Clyne Ryan Church. Looking for confirmation.

Jim here. Another breaking AVATAR story from the best place to be for all things James Cameron.

**SPOILER ALERT** - If you want a pristine viewing experience of AVATAR, it is best to stop reading NOW.

One of my readers (Thanks G.L.!) just sent these huge pieces of AVATAR material to my attention and due to the sensitive nature of the content I made sure it was ok with Fox before releasing it - it is THAT good!

Fox says run with it - it got approved through the right channels soooooo... take a good look at the whole darn Power Suit!! Please keep in mind that these photos are concept only and may not make it totally into the final AVATAR movie but you can clearly see how my Power Suit's photo fits into the concept drawing! Right down to the ammunition hanging down on the unit's side.

And a stunning new look at AVATAR's futuristic helicopters! WHOA. What do you make of those? For those of you who have read more about AVATAR, this is probably not a AEROSPATIALE SA-2 SAMSON as they only are armed with a door gun and are mainly used for operational movement on Pandora. However if you look in the background of the Power Suit, it looks like the downed aircraft behind it is a Samson! The second photo clearly shows much more heavy weaponry - missiles for example. So it could very well be an AH-19 SCORPION gunship or a C-21 DRAGON gunship which are over 100 feet long and looks like a "giant predatory insect, with multiple canopies at the front for pilots and gunners." (quote from original scriptment). Further the names may have very well changed from the scriptment, but you get the idea.

And ummm... is that a BANSHEERAY chasing the Gunship? Or a LEONOPTERYX?With someone riding it?? :-) I believe this concept art may be more driven by the mechanical design of the machinery than the creature design that Neville Page (who is also designing the prehistoric piranha's in Alexandre Aja's PIRANHA 3-D!) and others has worked on, so it is hard to say if the Leonopteryx (If that is what it is) will wind up looking like this or not. We do know that they can be ridden from the scriptment. But - DAMN - awesome creatures! We also know that originally the Leonopteryx (several times larger than a Bansheeray) does attack Samsons as they think they are enemies.Can't say more as it may have not even made it into the final movie, but let's just say these scenes are going to blow our minds!

This movie is going to kick some serious butt guys. What we have here is typical, knock your socks off James Cameron designs woven into a precise storyline.

So thus begins the ramp up to the release of AVATAR! It has been a long time coming, but let's start right here! I will get confirmation on exactly what that aircraft is shortly from my sources - stay tuned for updates! And as always, keep it on MarketSaw for the latest and greatest breaking 3D news.

What do you think of these designs - and Pandora's exotic landscape?? Is that what Pandora will look like?

Monday, May 25, 2009

Jim here. Ok guys - I know what you are thinking: Is this spy shot real or fake? (Click to enlarge) THIS IS REAL and here is why...

You are looking at the first glimpse of a piece of heavy equipment from AVATAR. I know what it is but I want to test your knowledge of the movie! What is it?? :-) Read below for some incentive to tell me what it is!

So where did I get this from?My best AVATAR source, that's where. This is guaranteed GOLD. I will never give a guarantee unless I am absolutely certain that this is the real deal. It is. And I guarantee it. I have learned a lot from the past week or so about trusting first time sources - you don't, no matter how good they look and how well you can verify them. So you have to be careful. This photo comes from a TRUSTED source that provided me with the first look at the Na'vi from Pandora. So ENJOY!!

We were all getting tired of the fake stuff circulating around lately and to be honest with you - I still am getting this stuff a few times a week. Some of it looks damn good - but as always I check with my trusted sources to verify and well, most of them don't make the cut. Getting photos like this one today from a great source makes it all worthwhile though!!

Just as good as a poster don't you think? :-) Half decent resolution and it looks darn mean!! Let's see who can come up with the name of this piece of equipment in AVATAR first in the comments section below... Then let's talk about it... :-)

So it is payback time for all you loyal MarketSaw readers! Another AVATAR photo to revel in. And it looks awesome! Damn I'm stoked for this movie!! Keep it on MarketSaw for the best coverage guys!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Jim here. I have gotten OFFICIAL word from Fox that the AVATAR trailer will absolutely NOT play in front of TRANFORMERS 2. All previous communications had left the door open to the possibility.

I asked for an unconditional "NO" and I got it from a Fox rep. Therefore we are back to the drawing board as far as knowing when a trailer will be out.

Perhaps moreover, we have at least several disgruntled sources who are not impressed with the revelation. When I came back to them with the contents of this new post today, believe me - some were LIVID. Some were expecting this - others not. This much is certain though - there was an internal deadline to meet for trailer development for TF2. Now... not so much.

There is more than meets the eye here, but I am not going to go into details as the bigger picture is we need to get a trailer out and/or ensure AVATAR is a kick-butt product. We all want to see a great trailer come out and everyone is under a lot of pressure at Fox.

The finished product is going to be spectacular and well worth the wait - on this we cannot be more clear. AVATAR is an industry defining project.

I would easily give up ALL trailers, posters and promos of AVATAR to get the best possible product come December. You know what I mean? I think you do...So take that into consideration guys - you know who you are - the work you guys are doing will be more than entertainment - its history in the making. We are all rooting for you.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Jim here. There is a new show in town - direct from Broadway. A new company known as Fugobi is actively working with 10 Broadway shows to shoot their productions in 3D for distribution to movie theaters. The theatrical versions will be shown in limited runs.

Fugobi has not announced which shows are the focus of these runs as of yet. However, the amNewYork article lists the producers name, Marcus Cheong - it doesn't take a genius to figure out his ANGELS THE MUSICAL will be one of them. "ANGELS tells the epic story of the ancient war between the Angels and Lucifer’s fallen minions."

I have been advocating 3D events for quite some time now - glad to see it happening on Broadway. I would go one step further though by showing opening nights in live 3D and charge double or triple for that show. Then keep showing the recording of that event for a 1 or 2 week window at normal rates.

3D Broadway shows should open up a whole new revenue stream for these productions and improve awareness of the timeless industry in New York City.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Wow I am disappointed in the new sources that have been sending in material (to say the least)! Well you know what? I don't need any new sources quite frankly. So with all new pending material coming in (and I get the stuff practically weekly) it will be considered garbage until totally cleared by all I know.

The only material I will post from this moment on without hesitation will be from my trusted sources. Sorry - but that is the way that cookie crumbles. We had a good thing going, but - like a really bad virus - there are a few swine out there.

And this is a clean site for the most part. Anyone coming in here and leaving comments using profanity or slinging mud will be banned. Period.

Thank you Debbie for the sane comment and for linking directly to the image (which is gorgeously done I might add).

Jim here. Got wind of a great video of Jim Carrey and Robert Zemeckis' stage discussion of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Cannes, through my friend Graham Fortin of Movieset. These guys do a great job. Check out the clip below!

Isn't Jim Carrey a likeable guy? Just watching his discussion here underscores what a treasure he is. Hope the kid never dies inside you man!

Oh and ANOTHER great Zemeckis interview right here. I hate it when embedding is disabled! :-(

Further 3D news: The Russian site Filmz.ru (via /film) has landed what seems to be authentic concept art from ALICE IN WONDERLAND. It appears real due to the uncanny resemblence to an actual film capture of Alice approaching a large outside door. I have a couple of shots embedded here, but click through to see the rest.

I have said all along that A CHRISTMAS CAROL is going to surprise people and be one of the best of 2009. I think they are firing on all cylinders here. I hope the early clip of ACC was just a working reel - as it seemed very out of place. I believe that once we are immersed into the Dickens classic through Zemeckis' eyes, we will all be haunted by lingering thoughts of how great the movie is! :-)

And sure I harbor some concerns over the conversion of ALICE IN WONDERLAND from 2D to 3D, I think the project is going to be wild! I hope I am convinced that 3D conversion is viable for first run movies through this project.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Michael here. Any VFX industry readers who would like to contribute to the most bleeding-edge film project ever may be interested in this job notice, posted yesterday on the 2-Pop forums.

It makes sense that they are still hiring. With a project like Avatar, work will continue on tweaking the incredible world Cameron has created until he gets every character, creature, alien tree, cloud, and blade of grass photoreal and animated like you are standing there underneath Pandora's twin suns.

This is why we haven't yet seen a trailer or still from the film. Cameron wants every shot that is seen in a potential trailer to be absolutely, 100% representative of the final product. So when will we see the trailer?

According to a Fox representative I spoke to today, "no trailer placement is confirmed at this time" and "we are nowhere near to having a final one." The rep also told us that "nothing is 100%" as to when we will get our first look at the film, although she did state that Comic-Con is still the most likely place for our first looks. Whether she was only referring to our first looks at a trailer or footage, or first looks at a poster or other marketing material wasn't made clear. I still think there's a good shot that we will see a poster well before the trailer, especially given what Fox Co-Chairman Jim Gianopulos told me at ShoWest.

This does not rule out Transformers 2 (and a 3D version in front of Ice Age 3 a week later) being the place we will see the first trailer, or the place where Fox would ideally like to debut it. Fox itself just doesn't know for sure yet - it all depends on when Cameron gets the shots he wants up to his standards. Multiple trustworthy sources (not the source of the fake trailer canister, by the way) have said that at one point at least - and maybe currently - the plan was for Transformers 2. Whether or not Fox makes that date is still up in the air.

Multiple people at Fox (including Gianopulos) and others elsewhere in the production have reiterated the unprecedented effort and time that this type of world building requires. So they are still in the thick of things as far as finishing the movie goes, and will be right up to December.

Here is the job listing:

Pandora Films (LLC) is seeking an Assistant Production Coordinators for work in the Virtual Lab and VFX Departments on James Cameron’s Avatar

Description:

Our project makes heavy use of motion capture as a means to creating performances and creatures for an immersive, 3D theatrical feature. We are looking for self-motivated, experienced VFX asst. coordinators for our VFX production crew in assisting the production team realize the strong creative vision of our director.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

You will be interfacing directly with the VFX vendors, managing information interchange between them and the VFX production, Editorial and IT departments. Duties include: note-taking during Director reviews, scheduling and coordinating review and meeting times, ensuring timely and complete delivery of needed work elements and assets to various VFX vendors, tracking shot and sequence progress through the vendors’ facilities, and a demonstrated aptitude for professional and accurate reporting.

Minimum Qualifications and Abilities:

Though not required, a four-year degree from an accredited college or university is preferred. Previous experience in the feature film or visual effects industry is required. Candidate will need to have demonstrated ability to interact well with VFX vendors, in-house departments and production staff, be detail-oriented and proactive, organize production information, take direction well and be willing to learn about cutting-edge technologies and pipeline processes.Previous facility-side experience and/or a high degree of familiarity with contemporary digital work process and pipelines are a huge plus.

Jim here. IMAX is staking out a 3 MONTH run for AVATAR on their screens! That is an aggressive stance that certainly means something. I mean, you can't run a company that screens movies without knowing how to program them. There is obviously going to be some HUGE demand for AVATAR in 3D and because there are relatively few IMAX screens, the end result is long periods of sellouts for IMAX.

Personally, I will be seeing AVATAR in at least RealD and IMAX and plan on taking it in many times. Heck I saw THE MATRIX back to back - loved it so much I turned around and bought another ticket. I expect that to happen with AVATAR. Potentially a three screener day? LOL.

Ok - these pics are NOT authentic. I have a number of sources and they all have now contacted me except for one (far off time zone) and they all say NO. I am tempted to remove them, but heck why not leave it up so you can see the lengths at which people will go to create some excitement around AVATAR. I left the last batch up too so why not.

**SAME DAY UPDATE #2: Trusted source number 2 backs up TRANSFORMERS 2 as the AVATAR trailer winner too. The pics? Fake. I am just about ready to pull them.

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Trusted source number 1 backs up the TRANSFORMERS 2 information but can't believe that is the titling for the movie. Another good point made by a reader is that why a 3D trailer version in front of a 2D movie? Unless they are showing this trailer on digital screens that will show both. It is very possible. Audiences would need 3D glasses for only the trailer obviously. Still waiting on further confirmation from other sources.

Jim here. Guys! I think this is it! I just got word from a source of mine in Europe - Can't say how he got it, but here are some photos of the Trailer disks and the trailer titling!!

Man that titling looks awesome! lol - I can't believe I am thrilled with just seeing titling - but there it is lol. We are finally going to see the AVATAR trailer and it is in front of TRANSFORMERS 2. I have heard that from multiple sources and while it seems that TERMINATOR: SALVATION was in the running, TRANSFORMERS 2 won out.

The length for Trailer A appears to be 2 minutes 41 seconds and this copy is a DTS 3D version.

I have been duped in the past by someone with what seemed to be hard drives of AVATAR trailers, but this I believe to be authentic. I am also checking my other sources for verification but in the meantime - take a look! :-)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Jim here. A movie that I have been getting a LOT of email about from readers is STEP UP 3-D - mainly from dancers who wanted to audition and seek their stardom through it. Well to those that made it - congratulations. To those that haven't, sorry but shooting has begun. We will see some new faces in the movie with Sharni Vinson and Rick Malambri being added as new talent.

I first knew it was shooting when I received a tweet from a guy whose office overlooks SU3D's street level set in New York City. By the time he got my return tweet, the shooting had stopped and apparently it was only a one day shoot (Twitter is only real time if it is read in real time lol). He promises pics if it gets back to that location, but I doubt they will be returning to the same spot.

The movie is about the dancers going to Paris for a big dance competition, but Moose misses his flight - which leads him to enter an underground dance competition in the French city.

STEP UP 3-D is slated for an August 6, 2010 release.Partial Source: Anthony Jones

Jim here. One of my favorite short stories I read during my childhood years was THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. It is damn morbid. I also remember listening to a LP recording (with an actor of course!) of someone waking up after being buried alive in a box. Not a pleasant recording to say the least and certainly gets your mind racing. I say the odds are good that the screenwriter, Gian Marco Masoni has kept that in!

From THR: "Ushers" will look at a grown brother and sister who have lived in the same Martha's Vineyard house for a long time but begin to feel trapped there, and who then bring in a real-estate broker to help them resolve their crisis.

Now if this movie also included running zombies I might just have to close my eyes once in awhile...Thank you Matt for the heads up on this one!

Monday, May 18, 2009

- FINAL DESTINATION: DEATH TRIP 3D is no longer. It has been renamed to THE FINAL DESTINATION - nothing too drastic, but better if you ask me. Almost sounds like a reboot attempt from scratch rather than as part of a franchise. (Source: Box Office Mojo)

Ok. Name change. Not sure about the timing, but I didn't really like the first one anyway...

- AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 YEARS has picked up distribution while at the Cannes Film Festival through Universal Music Group. Apparently the deal was consumated after a presentation of the movie which also included about 15 minutes of 3D. Moreover, it is not just for North American theatrical distribution but also DVD, TV, Non-theatrical and global soundtrack rights. (Source: Animation Magazine)

Love it when a plan comes together. Looks like UMG fell in love the project - can't wait to see it.

- Sony and Regal Cinemas have shaken hands on a 4K digital projector rollout to ~5,000 screens over the next 3 to 5 years. Of special note is that they have a grand total of ~6,700 screens right now, so digital will be making up about 75% of all their screens. This comes right on the heels of another massive 4K projector deal with AMC (4,700 screens) - making Sony 4K the industry leader right out of no where. That is if you can ever say that about Sony. 4K is the real deal guys. Congrats on the deals. And bring on 3D! :-)

Well if you had any doubt about Sony's entry in digital and 3D, you can drop them now. That is a rather resounding industry endorsement don't you think? I have seen the tech first hand (albeit a smallish screen) and it does look amazing.

- HUMPTY DUMPTY has revealed his box office teeth early - a new poster has the human/alien creature pulling a Jack Nicholson from behind a hole in a door. The movie is about an alien that wreaks havoc on humans after his mother is "abused by two rednecks in the Deep South". I think it has a great deal of potential... (Source: MySpace via ShockTilYouDrop)

Kinda disturbing character don't you think? And if the Executive Producer (Mark Ordesky) has anything to do with it, the FX are gonna be WILD.

Hi, Michael here with the first official image and footage from Robert Zemeckis' upcoming 3D performance capture A Christmas Carol!

Click on the picture for a high-res version.

Also, our friends at Latino Review have snagged the first ever footage from the movie. Check it out to see Ebenezer Scrooge visited by one of the ghosts. This looks great so far- Zemeckis' Beowulf in "true" IMAX 3D (not Liemax, mind you!) is still the most amazing 3D experience I've had. Click here and scroll to the bottom to check out the clip.

Also be sure to check out the first trailer for A Christmas Carol in front of Disney/Pixar's Up later this month!

Jim here. This is awesome news! You all know Thomas Jane who I interviewed last summer and he has been hard at work on multiple projects not the least of which is his directorial debut THE DARK COUNTRY, in 3D no less!

I believe this is the first 3D movie where the same man directed and starred in it. I have high hopes for the movie as it has been shot in Film Noir style and has some pretty exciting shots in the can. To hear more about the movie check out my interview with Thomas.

Also starring in the thriller is Ron Perlman and Lauren German. Variety says that Sony Pictures now holds the domestic distribution rights and will use a 3rd party to do so, while Nu Image holds international rights.

The movie involves a newly married couple coming across a dying victim in the middle of the road in the desert.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Now that the three major animation houses are totally 3D from this year going forward, I expect to see a major live action studio to follow suit before we see 2011.

Certainly, this is going out on a limb. But numerous indicators are pointing me in this direction:1. The credit markets will open up VERY soon and you will see unbelievable growth in Digital 3D screens before AVATAR is released in December.2. Animation has proven the 3D tentpole can work and work extremely well. Domestic gross from this spring's MONSTERS VS. ALIENS is already at ~$190 million and ~$330 million worldwide. 3D brings in the most per screen BY FAR. We are talking 2 or 3 times revenue and at times as high as 6 or 7 times revenue. MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D had 71% of it's revenue derived from 3D screens.3. AVATAR.Need I say more. This movie will not only define what is the pinnacle of cinematic achievement for 2009, but for our generation. The next wave of directors will be heavily influenced by it's performance capture and of course 3D superiority.4. Affordable 3D is here. With more and more equipment manufacturers seeing the future and producing 3D cameras, rigs and industry experts - economies of scale will kick in and you will see fresh new directors coming from nowhere, grabbing affordable - yet striking 3D tools and creating innovative and exciting new projects that the studios will latch on to. Further, the fledgling new industry is developing 3D expertise at all levels: Knowledge will no longer be scarce.5. The bottom line is MUCH better. Studios see the effect on 3D pragmatically and want to leverage that 3D premium price at the box office. Audiences don't mind paying a little more for a premiere 3D experience. This is a fact.Moreover, studios can open their vaults and bring back their previous movie hits with re-releases of 2D to 3D converted material! Why not leverage their library to their maximum potential? Lucas is doing it with STAR WARS. Peter Jackson WILL do it with LORD OF THE RINGS (right Peter?), Disney is doing it with TOY STORY... It just makes sense.6. The elimination of piracy, at least temporarily. 3D greatly hinders that shadowy thief with the camcorder in theaters. Again, an increase in bottom line and protection of the quality of their library.7. That all important innovator tag associated with the studio. That first studio to step forward and commit to 3D with all their resources will inherit an aura of 3D authority around the world. Each and every project announcement going forward will be that much more exciting because all will know it will be in stereoscopic 3D. It's all about building your brand and 3D is a key. When PUSS IN BOOTS was announced, everyone knew it would be in 3D!8. The studio will be well positioned to capitalize first on the fast growing 3D Home Video market. By committing to 3D, the first studio will have recent 3D hits to market aggressively in the 3DHD home entertainment market. If my estimates hold true, we should be seeing a 3DHD video standard by the end of next year. The SMPTE already has specs for what the master should look like before splitting to various viewing platforms. This reality is driving my timeline more than anything else really. Once we have a pipeline to get 3DHD to the home - it's over. 3D will be the defacto choice.9. If studios remain 2D, they risk losing their human resources and future contracts to a 3D studio. Directors, Producers, DPs, etc all want to further their careers and if a studio remains stagnant it is inevitable that they will lose vasts amounts of creative talent. It is a true evolution we are seeing here. No one wants to be the next GM or Chrysler of the motion picture industry. Adapt or suffer the consequences.10. 3D belongs to this generation. There are kids out there that have ONLY seen 3D movies. Whether it be Hannah Montana or MONSTERS VS. ALIENS or CORALINE this fact remains. Their expectations are - you had better wow me and to do that, you need 3D. For lack of a better word, they 'own' 3D.

I am not saying there isn't a market for 2D projects. Of course there is. But I am talking about the first movers and shakers - the true innovators of Hollywood. I am sure there will be 2D movies for awhile yet as it was with the transition from sound to talkies, and black & white to color. But don't fool yourself. This eventuality is coming whether the naysayers like it or not. The Roger Eberts of the world are still living in "the earth is flat" mode, and most likely will not change their tune. Oh it's a gimmick. It's distracting. Yadda, yadda.

Sorry. The audience has spoken. The creative talent have spoken. The financial bottom line has spoken. Those are the big three in 3D - not the few gasps for air from a dying breed of inert 2D abettors.

I, for one, am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this. It is my pleasure to bring you daily news from the 3D front and opine of ways to better present it to you. Quite frankly, we are lucky to be witnessing this transition first hand! And to answer the questions of your kids and grandkids like: "You mean there used to be flat movies?"

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Some interesting 2D to 3D Conversion News from my friends at Passmore Lab:

LOVELAND, Colo., May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The most honored film in the 35 year history of Grizzly Adams Productions is about to enter a whole new dimension, according to Charles E. Sellier, the company's CEO. San Diego-based PassmoreLab is converting the feature film "Friends for Life" into 3-D entertainment for 3-D theatrical exhibition.

"We created 'Friends for Life' so the whole family can enjoy a redeeming, life-affirming film together," Sellier explains. "This story of wolf pups, grizzly bears and a family coming together is a perfect vehicle for the 3-D process."

Greg Passmore, CEO of the company that bears his name, observes, "3-D has finally overcome the technical hurdles of the past. Gone are the days of colored glasses, headaches and ugly imagery. PassmoreLab employs leading edge technology to insure 'Friends for Life' is not just a 3-D movie, but an engaging experience as if you were actually standing in the woods with the characters."

David Balsiger, senior producer at Grizzly Adams, states: "Oscar-winning directors including Robert Zemeckis, 'The Polar Express,' and James Cameron, 'Avatar,' have already made the connection between family audiences and 3-D."

There is currently a rush by theater owners to add 3-D digital projectors to their locations. Carmike Theaters, which operates 2,300 theater screens, has brought their 3-D screen total to 500. Meanwhile, Regal Theaters, the largest U.S. movie chain, plans to install 3-D technology in 1,500 auditoriums with their current 3-D total hovering around 240.

A story about life, death and the critical importance of friends, "Friends for Life" tells the story of a retired big-city attorney living in a small mountain town who suffers loneliness after the death of his wife. One day in the woods, he discovers four orphaned wolf pups that face certain death. He cares for the pups until they are old enough to go back into the wild. Alone again, he becomes embroiled in helping the town fend off an unscrupulous land developer. Again out in the woods, he is attacked by a grizzly bear, only to be saved by the reappearance of the wolves. His gift of life to the wolves is repaid and he has four loyal friends for life.

In keeping with previous Grizzly Adams films, the show uses animals in the wild to tell a story of human hope, courage and determination. The company's first feature film in more than a decade, Grizzly Adams produced "Friends for Life" in association with Flynn-Daines Productions.

The 3-D version of "Friends for Life" will be completed in the fall of 2009 and will be available for worldwide theatrical release. Grizzly Adams will handle television licensing and domestic DVD retail distribution.

During the past 35 years, Grizzly Adams has produced 1200 family friendly shows for NBC, CBS, PAX, Discovery, SciFi, The Learning Channel and other networks. Eleven of the company's theatrical films are still among the top 100 all-time independent grossing films (non-studio), with six of those releases ranking in the top 25.

This sounds like a great live action conversion for families to see. I can't wait for it personally and I hope the distribution is picked up locally. Oh and I loved Grizzly Adams as a child! Would love to see the series again. Anytime I see great 2D to 3D conversions I will be sure to alert you guys. Stay tuned...

Jim here. 20th Century Fox and McDonald's have partnered in a sweeping move to bring their biggest hits to glasses and tray-liners, Happy Meals and TV commercials.THR reports that their deal is in place through 2010.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM promos start this month.

One has to assume that AVATAR will be included in this mix and while I am guessing the rebranding of a Quarter CCH Pounder With Cheese isn't going to happen, there will be some cool toys come out of it.

Jim here. Couldn't resist that one. Yes, Pixar's UP is opening the Cannes Film Festival in ummm, somewhere in France... the city's name escapes me right now, but they speak French very well there. This is the first time EVER that an animation has opened the iconic event and it is no wonder that it is in 3D. This is, after all - the Year Of 3D.

And wouldn't you know it, Disney has opened up their photo vault and given us some more images to stare at as we await the opening of UP at our local theaters. Check them out below.

I can tell you that UP is a VERY impressive effort from Pixar. I have seen the opening 45 minutes or so AND another 5 or 6 minutes of the action packed finale - certain things remain clear: There is only one Pixar. It is evident when you see their work and let me tell you that in 3D - it's mesmerizing. The storyline is top quality as you would expect and quite emotional; it was not the movie I thought it was going to be from the outset. And isn't that what movies are supposed to be all about? Pleasant surprises. It is the animation to beat this year.

Go see UP when it opens on May 29. You'll be glad you did. Pixar's UP brings joy to sorrow and dimension to life!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Jim here. Got some cool new behind-the-scenes photos (Dreadcentral) from Alexandre Aja's PIRANHA 3-D shooting right now in Arizona. Be sure to click on over to the Dreadcentral boys for more shots! That's Elisabeth Shue in the first photo.

These photos are obviously from the downtown area of the town whereas the spy shot I have of the soon to be "bloody action area" is on the outskirts.

I can't get enough of BTS photos. Shows all the action behind what finally gets up on screen. You can clearly see Aja's two stereo 3D monitors for his reviewing pleasure...

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Wow. Apparently the trailer material hit close to home and may be closer to the actual trailer than first thought! The source emailed me and said that the person he/she got it from is worried about career, etc and well MarketSaw will have no part in that. I assumed that MANY people would know what is in any potential trailer and that posting this, especially an older version would not point fingers at anyone. Guess not.

In the interest of the said person who is worried about his/her job and at the request of the source I am taking down the trailer description. If you missed it - sorry. That's Internet time for you. Hope everything is ok with the originator on this one.

Jim here. This first photo is a representation as to how close we have gotten to an AVATAR trailer - suitably you can take a cold shower inside it! What's with all the mystery surrounding the movie? Why no promotional material or trailers or heck even a poster yet? Let's try to answer those questions RIGHT NOW.

AVATAR is going to be a masterpiece. I stake my reputation on it as well as MarketSaw's. We are going to see things in new ways after viewing the movie and by that I mean our expectation of what Hollywood needs to deliver for a cutting edge movie will change. The industry knows it too. Why do you think so many directors have paid set visits to AVATAR and walked away in complete awe? Moveover, these directors in most cases have changed what matters most to them: Their personal artistic vision because of what James Cameron is doing. Spielberg and Jackson finally agreed to do TINTIN. Ridley Scott agreed to do THE FOREVER WAR (and maybe even an ALIEN prequel). 3D and performance capture is opening up the minds of our best directors and we are witnessing it first hand.

So with this kind of revolutionary change in cinema, how do you do justice to a movie that will definitively draw the line of pre and post AVATAR in Hollywood with a trailer? You can't - at least not effectively. It would be akin to trying to promote a full color movie on a nation's black and white television infrastructure. You just can't effectively do it. We do not have the capability to see 3D movie trailers at home yet. An easy parallel isn't it?

Fox will have to show trailers of AVATAR in both 2D and 3D. In fact many of the theaters that will be showing AVATAR in December will still be 2D. I am sure it will look stunning in that format as well but will it be the best way to see it? Hardly. Those 2D trailers will not be the way Cameron has envisioned it - or shot it. Everything in AVATAR is purposely been focused at 3D. But there will be a 2D trailer to be sure - Fox can't risk a 3D trailer being cammed and leaked in 2D - it would look horrible. So expect a trailer to be released in 2D and 3D at the same time or only in 2D (far, far less likely).

So where does that leave us? Aside from drooling for official AVATAR material, we are caught in between. Fox can't show us the best stuff because it will not look as great as it is intended to be (Why show off great scenes in 2D as it will spoil the full 3D experience) - yet it can't leave out enticing material for fear that audiences who have not heard of AVATAR (I know, hard to believe) will not buy into it.

I have been given the MONTH in which the AVATAR trailer is supposed to be delivered by (first time source from New Zealand, but seems VERY trustworthy - he/she is in a position to know) and that month is JUNE. In fact the scenes for the trailer have already been cut. Specifically the trailer is initially destined for a show or event. Not sure which one (guessing Cinema Expo International; June 22-25, 2009; Amsterdam, Netherlands) but that is the word. Fox is unveiling ICE AGE there on June 23 @ 4:30pm in 3D - perfect for showing off the trailer for AVATAR. LATER that day at 6:30pm it is even more interesting: 20th Century Fox International Invites You to Attend an Exclusive Product Presentation - could this be extended AVATAR footage? Fox then hosts a dinner at 8pm. Seems to me to be a perfect venue to show off their AVATAR goods. Of course we already know that something AVATAR related will be happening at Comicon in July as Tom Rothman has suggested.What does that mean for general audiences? Well you can expect to see it in theaters shortly thereafter perhaps the 2D version in front of TRANSFORMERS (June 24) and the 3D in front of ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (July 3). Potentially both the 2D and 3D versions are premiered in front of ICE AGE (as ICE AGE will be shown in 2D as well). That, my friends is a guess, but it is my best guess at this point in light of this new information. So the content will not be all that adult oriented as it will be in front of a younger ICE AGE audience. With knowledge that it will be ready a month ahead of Comicon I can't see it being held back that long.

I also received this information about an AVATAR trailer that was being put together months ago. It got quashed obviously. Now this source is also unproven and I have no background on him/her. I have had no previous dealings with him/her whatsoever. Read this with a grain of salt! This will most likely NOT be what we will be seeing soon for a trailer, but this is what they were apparently going to do awhile ago:

**REMOVED AT SOURCE'S REQUEST**

To me - this approach makes sense. I want to believe this is real and not some guys imagination gone wild from reading the scriptment. I almost did not post it but because I am not claiming this as absolutely true and even if it was it was, the ideas were from months ago so it has probably changed. But what makes sense to me is the fading in and out of black so often. The trick with the AVATAR trailer is to show LESS and let your mind wonder as it will be filled with wonder during the movie. It makes sense to focus on Jake in the trailer as he will be in every scene in AVATAR according to Cameron himself. Could this have been an overstatement by Cameron?

I did have a source send in some cool photos too of what is supposed to be snaps of an AVATAR trailer. MANY have asked to see them, but I cannot prove they are authentic - I have sent them to other trusted sources who all say that they are dubious at best. You can't make out what is in the photos and they have been photo-shopped without a doubt. So I am not posting them - believe me it is hard to not do so, especially when this post is all about the AVATAR trailer!

And in the interesting FACT department, we have another little interesting tidbit of information (source: Total Film): There are totem poles in AVATAR. This is taken from the magazine article where they are interviewing Cameron:

"When I visited the AVATAR set, for example, there was only one other guy on stage with James Cameron," says Damon O'Beirne of Dreamworks. "He's standing there with a cable, looking unbelieveably bored. Because all he does is move the cable out of Cameron's way. If he f**ks up then Jim is going to yell at him! But everywhere around the stage, it's like NASA," continues O'Beirne. "There are 40 people at computers and monitors making sure everything gets recorded." Then Jim goes, 'Um, that totem pole is a little bit high.' Apparently there is a totem pole in part of the virtual world he's standing in! And you just hear, 'Got it.' Click, click, click... and Jim's like, 'Yeah, that's about right.' It's bizarre, but amazing."

Can you imagine shooting a film like that? It actually reminds me of the scariest parts of some horror films where someone is looking through a viewfinder of a camera and sees another world (can anyone tell me the name of the movie where a girl is looking through her camcorder and sees an evil looking surgery taking place, but when she lowers it all she sees is an empty lab table?).

So what do you make of the AVATAR trailer in light of this new information? Stoked? :-)We are close to something very exciting anyway...

Stay tuned as I have a couple of very interesting AVATAR posts under development! The countdown is on and of course MarketSaw is THE place to be...

Also as an added treat from the Total Film magazine's 3D extravaganza is a bunch of anaglyph shots (red / blue) of our favorite past movies - here are a few I am hoping we see converted to modern 3D REAL soon (click to blow up). Enjoy!